The Big Dreams of Small Creatures - by Gail Lerner (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From Black-ish writer and director Gail Lerner comes a whimsical and heartwarming tale where two unlikely allies band together to protect and defend the insect world from the worst enemy of all...humans. Now in paperback.

"What an enchanting and wondrous book for young readers." --Jamie Lee Curtis, actress and bestselling children's book author

Ten-year-old Eden's quiet life is upended when she saves a paper wasp nest from destruction and discovers, to her awe and amazement, that she and its haughty queen can talk to each other. This first conversation is the start of a grand adventure, leading Eden to The Institute for Lower Learning, a secret laboratory devoted to the peaceful coexistence of humans and insects. The Institute is more fantastic and idyllic than Eden could've imagined but hidden deep within its tunnels is an old secret that could spell the end for all insects on earth.

Nine-year-old August, an aspiring actor and bullied fourth-grader, is looking for that very secret after a few disastrous encounters have left him wanting to squash every annoying bug into oblivion. After all insects are small--he is big. And if there is anything he's learned from the bullies at school--it's that being bigger is what counts.

But in the world of the Institute where insects have a place of their own, both Eden and August discover being bigger isn't necessarily better and sometimes the most courageous thing to do is to set out to make a new friend.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Big Dreams of Small Creatures

"In the delightful new book The Big Dreams of Small Creatures by Gail Lerner, a young girl named Eden Evans discovers she can speak Wasp: Yes, she can actually speak to them, with the help of a kazoo, but I digress. From that miraculous discovery to the thrilling roller coaster ending, Eden and August, who is terrified of insects and wants to destroy them, find conflict and adventure and a whole new world in the coexistence between humans and insects. What an enchanting and wondrous book for young readers." --Jamie Lee Curtis, actress and bestselling children's book author

"From fumbling fourth-grader August to introspective, independence-loving Eden and their friends, both human and insect, Gail Lerner's characters are a delight, full of heart and humor. The Big Dreams of Small Creatures is a whimsical adventure highlighting the wonders of the natural world--and our sometimes complicated relationship with it--and the importance of kindness, compassion, and seeing things through another's eyes." --Robert Beatty, author of the bestselling Serafina series and Willa series

"An extraordinary and entertaining cast of characters on a remarkable eco-mission. Hopeful, upbeat, and triumphant. Our world literally needs this story in it." --Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames

"Gail Lerner's The Big Dreams of Small Creatures is heartfelt and humorous. Told from two often opposing but equally understandable perspectives, Lerner's wonderful debut middle grade novel has a staggeringly original concept, richly-drawn characters, a healthy dose of environmental optimism, and a touch of magic. Anyone who reads this lovely book will come away with a better appreciation for how everyone--and every thing--has a place in our world." --Stuart Gibbs, author of the bestselling FunJungle, Spy School, and Moon Base Alpha series

"The prose is beautiful . . . [and] readers may be drawn to the strong messages about environmentalism, friendship, and self-discovery. A slowly unfolding read for bug lovers and environmentalists." --Kirkus

"Lerner's entertaining, unconventional novel sees humans and insects share narration duties, allowing for a wide range of perspectives, deep empathy, and a marvelous sense of humor. An inventive, endearing story that will make an entomologist and environmental activist out of anyone." --Booklist

"Two kids at cross purposes intersect over insects in this environmentally invested novel . . [with] alternating arcs [that] invest readers in a world where curiosity leads to discovery, empathy proves a key ingredient in multiple kinds of conflict, and interspecies bonding is portrayed as key to global survival." --Publishers' Weekly

About the Author

Gail Lerner is a television and film writer/director. She has recently directed her first feature film, a reimagining of Cheaper by the Dozen, for Disney+, which will be released in February of 2022. Additionally, she has written and directed for Black-ish, Happy Endings, Ugly Betty, Grace and Frankie and Will & Grace. Her work has garnered her a Peabody Award, 6 NAACP Image Awards, and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Her short film, Seraglio, which was co-written and co-directed with her dashing and talented husband, Colin Campbell, was nominated for a 2001 Academy Award. She holds an MFA in Theater Directing from Columbia University. This is her first novel.